Recall 25V849 covers 600 2025-2027 Thomas Built Buses school buses with wheelchair restraints that fail to lock. Free repair at a franchised dealer.
Thomas Built Buses is recalling 600 2025-2027 school buses, including the Saf-T-Liner C2 and Minotour Drw, because certain QRT-Deluxe and QRT-Max wheelchair restraint retractors can fail to lock. An unsecured wheelchair can move during transit and increase injury risk; Thomas Built Buses dealers will complete the recall repair free of charge.
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What's wrong?
The wheelchair restraint system on affected 2025-2027 Thomas Built Buses school buses is supposed to hold a passenger's wheelchair firmly in place. The QRT-Deluxe or QRT-Max retractor is the locking part of that system. It winds and locks the restraint webbing so the wheelchair stays secured during normal driving, braking, and turns.
On these buses, the retractor's auto release function can stick because internal parts create too much friction. When that happens, the retractor does not lock as designed. The wheelchair restraint then cannot hold the wheelchair properly, which leaves the passenger less secure while the bus is moving.
Before a passenger trip, this defect is detectable during a standard functional inspection or pre-trip inspection. The warning sign is a retractor that does not lock when checked. During use, abnormal wheelchair movement is another sign that the restraint is not securing the chair correctly.
Who's affected?
Spans 5 Thomas Built Buses models across the 2025-2027 model years, all tied to wheelchair restraint latch or anchor equipment.
| 2027 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner C2 | Latch/anchor |
|---|---|
| 2026 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner C2 | Latch/anchor |
| 2026 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner Hdx | Latch/anchor |
| 2026 Thomas Built Buses Minotour Drw | Latch/anchor |
| 2025 Thomas Built Buses Minotour Drw | Latch/anchor |
| 2027 Thomas Built Buses Minotour Drw | Latch/anchor |
| 2026 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner C2 Jouley | Latch/anchor |
| 2025 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner Efx | Latch/anchor |
| Units affected | 600 |
| Field incidents | NHTSA has logged no field incidents to date. |
The year and model narrow the scope, but the VIN decides. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific bus is included.
What's the safety risk?
An unsecured wheelchair can shift during transit and increase the risk of injury. Before carrying passengers, check that each retractor locks during the standard pre-trip inspection, and treat abnormal wheelchair movement as a reason to stop service and arrange dealer inspection. Repair is free at any franchised Thomas Built Buses dealer.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2025-2027 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner C2, Saf-T-Liner Hdx, Minotour Drw, Saf-T-Liner C2 Jouley, or Saf-T-Liner Efx bus is included in this recall.
- Contact a franchised Thomas Built Buses dealer to schedule the free wheelchair-restraint retractor inspection and replacement that fixes restraints that do not lock.
- Reference recall number 25V849 and DTNA recall F1028 when you call.
- Bring the recall notice if you have it, and ask the dealer how to handle any wheelchair restraint that does not lock before the repair.
- Keep any seating position with a wheelchair restraint that does not lock out of service until the dealer completes the repair.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, a Thomas Built Buses technician inspects the wheelchair restraint retractors and replaces any retractors that do not lock correctly. Parts and labor are covered under the recall, so the dealer repair is free now. DTNA used its general reimbursement plan on file for this campaign. If you already paid for a related wheelchair restraint retractor repair before the recall notice, contact DTNA customer service and keep repair invoices or other documentation for the claim.
| Reimbursement | Reimbursement available |
|---|
Timeline
| December 9, 2025 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| December 29, 2025 | Dealer notification began |
| December 29, 2025 | Dealer notification ended |
| February 5, 2026 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 25V849?
Recall 25V849 covers 600 2025-2027 Thomas Built Buses school buses equipped with certain QRT-Deluxe and QRT-Max wheelchair restraints. The restraint retractor can fail to lock, which can leave a wheelchair unsecured during transit and increase injury risk. Dealers will inspect and replace retractors for free.
What should I do if my 2025-2027 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner C2, Saf-T-Liner Hdx, Minotour Drw, Saf-T-Liner C2 Jouley, or Saf-T-Liner Efx is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific bus is included in recall 25V849. If it is, contact a franchised Thomas Built Buses dealer to schedule the wheelchair-restraint inspection. The dealer will replace the retractors as needed for free.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to repair the defect at no cost. For recall 25V849, Thomas Built Buses dealers will inspect the QRT-Deluxe and QRT-Max wheelchair restraint retractors and replace them as needed for free.
What is the safety risk with recall 25V849?
The risk is an unsecured wheelchair during transit. If the retractor does not lock, the wheelchair is not properly secured, and it can move while the bus is in use. That movement increases the risk of injury for the wheelchair occupant and nearby passengers.
When were owners notified about recall 25V849?
Owner notification letters were mailed on February 5, 2026. If you operate or own one of the listed Thomas Built Buses models and did not receive a letter, check your VIN and reference recall 25V849 or DTNA recall number F1028 when calling the dealer.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/25V849000 |
|---|---|
| Thomas Built Buses customer service | 1-800-547-0712 |
| NHTSA recall # | 25V849 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 25V849000 |
Source documents
-
Download Quarterly Report (PDF) - Download Owner Notice (PDF)
- Download Owner Notification Letter (PDF)
- Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Recall Report (PDF)
- Download Recall Acknowledgement (PDF)
This article is generated from NHTSA's primary recall filings and reviewed against the source on May 19, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →